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Guide To Become a Freelance Photographer
Whether you are a shutterbug, a lens hog, or even camera-shy, you know that photography is a
rewarding career. Photography is more complex an art than simply telling people to huddle up closer
and smile for the flash. It is the art of capturing images on camera, for aesthetic, memorial and other
purposes. Many people make a living of photography and the advent of social media has only added to
its already established allure. It is a respectable career option, well received and well paid.
The reason why people explore freelance photography is multi-faceted. Firstly, it is a well-paying
alternative to regular work. Moreover, you can choose whom you wish to work for, and what kind of
work you wish to undertake.
Job Duties:
There are many duties that you will have as a photographer, often at times more complex than ushering
all 20 family members into one frame. There are some generic deeds that most photographer dudes and
dudettes undertake, however, photographers like to focus on certain areas, like Nature, Fashion, Art,
Family, War, Press and other specific areas that photographers usually work.
Some of the duties you would expect to perform as a photographer include:
Understanding client needs
Determining pictorial subjects
Researching for shoots
Using equipment like lighting, cameras, lenses and software
Liaising with other professionals, like graphic designers, writers, gallery managers etc
Managing the processing of images
Compiling albums, frame prints
Developing portfolios
Self-marketing
Skills :
Photographers need to develop certain skills to make a decent living. There are many places that you
can develop the skills needed as a photographer. However, before you do find out where it is important
to know what these skills are. Without ado, let us look at these skills in question:
Editing skills (Photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Creative Suite)
Equipment skills like composition, exposure, making the most of a camera
Being open to ideas, flexible as a photographer
Studying others work
Practice your skills
Marketing skills
You can develop and hone these skills needed online, or through courses. There are many platforms and
websites that can help you ‘picture’ a brilliant career, as a photographer.
Photography Course, Acadsoc, Photoflex Lighting School, Morguefile, About and Best Photo Lessonsoffer
many online courses which include both free and paid websites where you can learn how to become a
photographer.
Being Successful as a Freelance Photographer :
Photographers, who usually gather fame, are the ones who cover Fashion, Celebrity and Corporate
events. There are many well-known Wildlife photographers as well.
There are many bumps and minor hiccups that most freelancers face, with no colleagues to moan with,
no lunches with co-workers and the instability caused by the absence of a weekly cheque. However, one
can become successful, or indeed set off down the path to success, by following certain tips, as;
Creating an eye-catching website, and promoting a daily blog
Getting out of your comfort zone as a photographer
Being adept at editing and quick with software
Being open to learning
Marketing yourself
Average Remunerations
Photographers in high places usually earn big bucks and get to shoot a variety of interesting, often good-
looking, pictorial subjects. There are other photographers, who earn enough money by simply covering
wedding photographs and other related events.
As with other freelance opportunities, there are essentially two types of engagements offered, the
fixed-price model and the hourly payment model. Therefore, what can you earn as a freelance
photographer?
Estimated budgets for fixed-price engagements range from $30- 150 for a project, while hourly jobs
usually pay $5– 80 an hour depending on how good and experienced you are. There are jobs that pay
less on an hourly basis but provide ongoing work for sometimes months and even years together. It
depends on what kind of a rapport you share with your employer. In the beginning of your career, you
may have to work for a slightly low price than quoted, but such jobs will help you build your credibility
and are equally important if you wish to make a name for yourself in the freelance market.
Finding Work:
It is not tough to find work as a photographer. With social media playing such an important part in
advertising, marketing and communication today, one of the best ways to find work as a photographer
is to create a Facebook page, and invite your friends, family and acquaintances to
like it. It is important to remember that photography is a visual art and Social media platforms like
Facebook, Twitter etc are the best promotional platforms.
Apart from creating a Facebook page and a blog, there are many opportunities for work as a Freelance
photographer. Some popular websites that offer work for photographers feature Odesk, Peopleperhour,
Elance, GuruandFreelancer, among many other websites.
Resources:
There is an abundance of learning resources for people like you, who wish to become photographers.
There are websites, which feature paid and free instructional courses on Photography. You can learn
how to take amazing pictures online, by simply watching an instructional video.
Some of the website resources on offer, include popular websites like PhotographyCourse, Acadsoc,
Photoflex Lighting School, Morguefile, About and Best Photo Lessons, that offer many online courses,
both paid for and free ones.
For more information on Freelance Resource please visit www.careerlancer.net